Care New England names execs to system posts

PROVIDENCE – In an effort to prepare for the changing health care landscape, Care New England has appointed five of its administrative and physician executives to new roles, the health care organization announced Tuesday.

The five Care New England executives will assume new system responsibilities in addition to their current positions.

“I owe these executives a debt of gratitude for their willingness to assume additional responsibility,” Dennis D. Keefe, president and CEO, said in a statement. “Our goal in achieving greater system integration is to work toward continuous improvement in quality, patient safety, care integration and coordination, and the patient experience of care.”

“Our success in these areas will enable us to become a more care effective and cost effective organization,” added Keefe.

In addition to maintaining her role as president and CEO of Kent Hospital, Sandra Coletta will take on the role of Care New England’s chief operating officer.

In this capacity, she will oversee the operational integration of the system, working closely with operations leadership in each of the Care New England hospitals and the VNA of Care New England.

Dr. Raymond O. Powrie, who currently serves as the senior vice president for quality and clinical effectiveness and is acting chief of the department of medicine at Women & Infants will assume the role of Care New England’s chief medical quality officer.

In this role, Powrie will assume responsibility for the design and development of a quality, safety and risk management program across all of the Care England operating units. The program’s focus will be on standardizing protocols and procedures in keeping with best clinical quality practices throughout the system.

Dr. Michael J. Dacey, Kent Hospital’s chief medical officer will take over as Care New England’s chief clinical integration officer. In the new position, Dacey will oversee the design and development of a new health care delivery system that offers clinical care integration across Care New England and its affiliated entities and practices.

Butler Hospital President and CEO Dr. Patricia Recupero will assume the role of Care New England’s executive vice president of brain and behavioral health.

In this new position, Recupero will lead the effort to coordinate the development of the brain and behavioral health service line across Care New England facilities, focusing on defining strategy and improving clinical growth, patient satisfaction, access and quality, as well as staff and physician engagement.

Finally, in addition to retaining her position as president and CEO of Women & Infants Hospital, Constance A. Howes will assume the role of Care New England’s executive vice president of women’s health.

Howes will lead the effort to coordinate the development of the women’s health service line by including defining strategy and improving clinical growth, patient satisfaction, access, quality and staff and physician engagement in this area.

According to Keefe, Care New England has already made “substantial progress” in improving coordination across its system.

During the fall of 2011, the board of directors from each of the hospitals and the VNA were unified at the system level.

“The move toward even greater system integration will require us to embrace a multi-organizational and multi-disciplinary approach, more fully develop needed technology and support systems, and truly capitalize on the resources and rich talents found across Care New England,” said Keefe. “These new appointments and the ongoing contributions from these talented individuals will enable us to bring Care New England to its next level of excellence.”

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